Date: March 13, 2005Competition: La Liga – Matchday 22Fixture: FC Barcelona vs. Real MadridVenue: Camp Nou, BarcelonaAttendance: 98,000Weather: Cool and clear, 13°CKickoff: 9:00 PM
The world stood still for 90 minutes.
Cameras flashed. The Camp Nou crowd buzzed louder than electricity. Every seat was filled, every eye alert.
The anthem of La Liga echoed through the stadium.
Messi stood in line beside Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Deco, and Xavi. Across them: Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham, Roberto Carlos.
"This," Ronaldinho whispered, "is more than a match.""This is war with a ball."
Kickoff – First Half Begins
Minute 1–10
Barcelona took control early — short passes, patient buildup. Messi hugged the right touchline, marked tightly by Roberto Carlos and Samuel.
Every time he got the ball, the crowd leaned forward.Madrid's strategy was clear: foul if needed, but don't let him turn.
Minute 7 — First spark.
Messi received a pass from Xavi near midfield. One touch inside. Carlos lunged. Messi skipped past.He accelerated — right into space — and laid it off to Ronaldinho, who nearly curled one into the corner.
The crowd roared.Madrid got the message: he's not afraid.
Minute 15–30: Tactical Chess
Madrid pushed back.Zidane floated like smoke between the lines. Beckham sprayed diagonal balls. Ronaldo snapped a shot into Valdés' gloves.
Messi, meanwhile, adapted.
Instead of waiting wide, he began dropping into midfield, linking up with Deco and Iniesta — pulling his markers out of shape.
Minute 19 — Messi receives in the half-space.
He taps to Xavi, spins behind the defender, gets it back, and dances through two white shirts.
Lays it off to Eto'o. Shot blocked.
Minute 24 — The first real test.
Zidane nutmegs Deco and finds Ronaldo running through.Puyol slides. Ball cleared.The Camp Nou breathes again.
Minute 33: The First Blow
A quick turnover. Deco to Messi.
One touch to control.One shimmy left.Then a sprint.
He leaves Helguera behind. Roberto Carlos closes fast — but Messi cuts back sharply, shifts to his left foot, and curls a low shot toward the bottom corner.
GOAL. 1–0. Lionel Messi.
The Camp Nou erupts.
He doesn't celebrate wildly — just raises one fist to the sky, looking up for a moment.
It's his first Clásico goal.
Minute 37–45: The Madrid Response
Real Madrid are wounded — and dangerous.
Minute 40 — Beckham curls in a cross. Ronaldo heads it…
GOAL. 1–1.Valdés couldn't reach it. Camp Nou silenced.
Zidane pats Ronaldo on the head. Puyol gathers the team near the center circle.
"We respond now," he says.
Half-Time: Barcelona 1–1 Real MadridGoals: Messi (33'), Ronaldo (40')
Second Half – The Battle Deepens
Minute 46–55
Barcelona come out fiery.Ronaldinho dances down the left. Deco rifles one from range. Eto'o strikes the post.
Messi continues drifting — now central, now right — always moving, always making the Madrid defense guess.
Minute 54 — Iniesta to Messi inside the D.He chips it delicately over the line. Eto'o runs on and slots it home.
GOAL. 2–1 Barcelona. Assist: Messi.
Minute 61–75: Chaos and Beauty
Madrid won't fall easily.
Minute 66 — Zidane threads a pass. Ronaldo again — saved by Valdés.
Minute 69 — Messi takes on three near the halfway line. Spins, shields, flicks. A nutmeg on Gravesen, and the stadium rises to its feet.
He passes to Giuly. One-two. Messi gets it back, slides it through to Ronaldinho—
Ronaldinho shoots—
GOAL. 3–1.The stadium explodes.
Messi, breathing hard, claps once and smiles. Not for himself — for the football.
Minute 80–90: Sealing the Match
Madrid throw bodies forward. Beckham curls a dangerous free kick. Valdés tips it over.
Messi, even fatigued, keeps running. Defending. Creating.
Minute 88 — He picks up the ball from Iniesta and drives forward.
He's tackled, stays up. Beats the next man. Then flicks a no-look pass behind to Deco.
Deco squares to Giuly—
GOAL. 4–1.Another assist for Messi.
Full-Time: FC Barcelona 4–1 Real Madrid
Goals: Messi (33'), Eto'o (54'), Ronaldinho (69'), Giuly (88'); Ronaldo (40')Assists: Messi (2), Deco (1), Ronaldinho (1)
Post-Match Quotes
Frank Rijkaard:
"He's not just a boy. He's our blade. And tonight, he cut through Madrid."
Zidane:
"He plays like someone who doesn't care who he's facing. That's dangerous."
Ronaldinho:
"We passed him the fire. And he didn't burn — he burned others."
Notebook Entry – March 13, 2005
Anto,I scored in a Clásico. I assisted twice. We beat Madrid.I should be excited. But I'm just… calm.Not because it didn't matter. But because I was exactly where I was supposed to be.I listened to the ball. It told me to trust it.And I did.— Leo
Lionel Messi – Updated Stats (as of March 13, 2005)
Season (Club):
Matches: 33
Goals: 22
Assists: 26
Free Kick Goals (Match): 1
Free Kick Goals (Training): 13
Dribbles Completed: 168
Fouls Suffered: 80
Career Totals (Club + Country):
Matches: 33
Goals: 22
Assists: 26
Dribbles Completed: 168
National Team Caps: 0
National Team Goals: 0
La Liga Standings (After Matchday 22):
1st: Barcelona – 63 pts
2nd: Real Madrid – 57 pts
3rd: Sevilla – 56 pts
4th: Villarreal – 53 pts
World Football News – March 13
Premier League: Arsenal beat Newcastle 2–0. Henry scores.
Serie A: Totti scores a brace as Roma beat Parma.
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich lose again — crisis brewing.
South America: River Plate reject €10M bid for Higuaín from Inter Milan.